METRO 2039 New Trailer Debuts at Gamescom Opening Night Live

4A Games is based in Ukraine and has used the METRO series to depict humanity in extreme conditions in post-nuclear-war Russia. Jon Bloch described the game on stage: "This is not just a return, but a darker, more ambitious, and deeply personal journey."

The preview build, played through a cloud version on GeForce NOW, starts at Sevastopolskaya Station, which is under threat from the Novo Reich. The player makes a deal with the station master to eliminate raiders in exchange for information on the person Stranger is searching for. The station interiors are depicted with dirt and rust on walls, pipes, and scattered objects.

The surface areas show gloomy skies, abandoned cars, and dilapidated buildings, with green glowing particles representing radioactive contamination. Gas mask and filter management, hand-cranked chargers, and using a lighter to burn away spider webs all return. New tools include the UV light, which reveals hidden messages and mutants in darkness, and a cutting torch that burns through locked doors and blows up walls.

Combat adds secondary ammunition with sub-effects that can be switched on the fly. The new primary weapon is the Shatun, a self-made rifle using air pressure that fires metal ball bearings crafted from junk parts. It is effective for stealth due to its suppression, and can also shatter heavily armored enemies. Blueprints found during exploration allow upgrades at workbenches, including reinforced attachments, visors, and expanded batteries. The game fuses the linear claustrophobia of the early entries with the exploration elements of METRO Exodus.